Sheet material trimming method and apparatus

ABSTRACT

An improved apparatus for trimming sheet material assemblages along face, head and foot edge portions includes a face knife located at a first trimming station and head and tail or foot knives located at a second trimming station which is spaced from the first trimming station. After a sheet material assemblage has been registered in a predetermined orientation relative to the knives at the first trimming station, the sheet material assemblage is clampingly gripped adjacent to its head and foot portions by two parallel sets of positively driven conveyor belts, i.e., timing belts, which extend from the first trimming station through the second trimming station toward a delivery station. After a sheet material assemblage has been gripped at the first trimming station by upper and lower belts of each set of conveyor belts, the face knife trims the face edge portion of the sheet material assemblage. An intermittent drive mechanism is then activated to drive the conveyor belts through a feed stroke to move the sheet material assemblage from the first trimming station to the second trimming station. At the same time, a next succeeding sheet material assemblage enters the first trimming station and is registered in a predetermined orientation relative to the knives. All three of the trim knives are then simultaneously moved through trimming strokes to trim the head and trail or foot edge portions of the leading sheet material assemblage at the second trimming station and to trim the face edge portion of the trailing sheet material assemblage at the first trimming station. The conveyor belts clampingly hold the leading sheet material assemblage in registered orientation relative to the knives as it is moved from the first trimming station to the second trimming station and as it is trimmed at the second trimming station. Each set of the conveyor belts is mounted in a fixed spatial relationship with the associated one of the head and foot trim knives and can be moved transversely to the path of travel of the sheet material assemblages with the associated trim knife to adjust the distance between the head and foot trim knives to accommodate sheet material assemblages of different sizes. A center trim knife is mounted intermediate the head and foot trim knives for two-up cutting.

United States Patent [191 Marciniak [i 3,811,350 1' May 21, 1974 John J. Marciniak, Berea, Ohio [73] Assignee: Harris-lntertype Corporation,

Cleveland, Ohio 22 Filed: July 12, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 270,980

[75] Inventor:

8/1951 Moyer 83/925 A Primary Examiner-J. M. Meister [57] ABSTRACT- An improved apparatus for trimming sheet material assemblages along face, head and foot edge portions includes a face knife located at a first trimming station and head and tail or foot knives located at a second trimming station which is spaced from the first trimming station. After a sheet material assemblage has been registered in a predetermined orientation relative to the knives at the first trimming station, the sheet material assemblage is clampingly gripped adjacent to its head and foot portions by two parallel sets of positively driven conveyor belts, i.e., timing belts, which 2 I l .299 W M extend from the first trimming station through the second trimming station toward a delivery station After a sheet material assemblage has been gripped at the first trimming station by upperand lower belts of each set of conveyor belts, the face knife trims the face edge portion of the sheet material assemblage. An intermittent drive mechanism is then activated to drive the conveyor belts through a feed stroke to move the sheet material assemblage from the first trimming station to thesecond trimming station. At the sametime, a next succeeding sheet-material assemblage enters the first trimming station and is registered in a predetermined orientation relative 'to the knives. All three of the trim knives are then simultaneously moved through trimming strokes to trim the head and trail or foot edge portions of the leading sheet material assemblage at the second trimming station and to trim the face edge portion of the trailing sheet material assemblage at the first trimming station. The conveyor belts,"

clampingly hold the leading sheet material assemblage in registered orientation relative to the knives as it is moved from the first trimming station to the second trimming station and as it is trim'med at the second trimmingstation; Each set of the conveyor belts is mounted in a fixed spatial relationship with the associated one of the head and foot trim knives and can be moved transversely to the path of travel of the sheet material assemblages with the associated trim knife to adjust the distance between the head and foot trim knives to accommodate sheet material assemblages of different sizes. A center trim knife is mounted intermediate the head and foot trim knives for.two-up cutting.

15 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures mimsnmm 1914 3511.350

SHtU 1 0F 6 PATENTEBIIAYZI m4 3.811.350

' SHEEI 2 OF 6 PATENTEDm 2 I 1914 SHEU 3 0F 6 FIGS PATENTEDHAYZI m4 3.811; 350

SHEET 6 M6 FIG. II

. 1 SHEET MATERIAL TRlMMlNG METHOD AND APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE lNVENTlON The'present invention relates to a method and apparatus for trimming sheet material assemblages at least along face, head and foot edge portions, and in instances of two-up book production, also trimming be- .tween two separate books which make up such assemblages.

In accordance with common practices, sheet material assemblages of one or more folded sheets are trimmed along their face, head and foot edge portions by known trimming mechanisms. These known trimming mechanisms may be of the three-knife type and includes a drive assembly for reciprocating all three knives at substantially the same time to trim the face edge portion of one sheet material assemblage while contemporaknives but also a center trim knife which is placed betweenthe head and foot knives for two-up trimming in the manner disclosed in US. Pat. No. 2,562,950.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION The present invention relates to an improved method and apparatus for trimming sheet material assemblages along face, head and foot edge portions. The method and apparatus of the present invention is particularly well adapted for addition of knives for two-up trimming. A trimming mechanism constructed in accordance with the present invention has a face trim knife located at a first trimming station and head and tail or foot trim knives located at a second trimming station. The trimming mechanism may be'utilized for two-up trimming by providing a center trim or split knife to separate two sections printed together in the same sheet material assemblage. This split knife may have one or more cutting edges formed on one or more blade members and may be referred to as a fourth or a fourth and fifth knife.

When a sheet material assemblage is received in the trimming mechanism, it is registered in a predetermined orientation relative to the trim knives, that is with the back or folded edge of the sheet material assemblage extending parallel to the face trim knife'and perpendicular to the headand foot trim knives. Once the sheet material assemblage has been registered, it is clampingly gripped adjacent to foot and head edge portions by conveyor belts which maintain the sheet material assemblage in its registered orientation during the entire trimming operating to eliminate the necessity of subsequent registering steps. The gripped and regis- 0nd trimming stationwhere. the head and foot trim knives are located. The conveyor belts clampingly grip the sheet material assemblage adjacent to both its head and foot edge portions and maintain the back or folded edge of the sheet material assemblage in a perpendicular orientation relative to the head and foot trim knives as it is conveyed to the second trimming station and during subsequent trimming of' the sheet material assemblage. The conveyor arrangement is such as to essentially eliminate all lost motion of parts, and therefore provide a high degree of repentability of trim from one assemblage to the next. During conveyance from the first to the second station, the sheet material assemblage itself adds further lateral stability to the conveyor belts, acting as a cross-tie between the belts.

To facilitate adjusting the trimming mechanism to accommodate sheet material assemblages of different sizes, the head and foot trim knives and the associated conveyor belts are mounted on support assemblies which can be moved toward and away from each other. Each of the conveyor belts is mounted on a support assembly in association with one of the trim knives and is maintained in the same spatial relationship with the associated trim knife as it is adjusted to accommodate sheet material assemblages of different sizes. Therefore, the conveyor belts always grip the sheet material assemblages in the same position relative to the associated trim knife. In addition, a side register surface is tered sheet material assemblage is then trimmed along its face edge portion by the face trim knife.

After the sheet material assemblage has been trimmed along its face edge portion, an intermittent drive mechanism is operated to move the conveyor belts through a feed stroke to transport the sheet mate rial assemblage from the first trimming station to a secmounted on the support assembly with a trim knife so that an edge portion of a sheet material assemblage is always registeredin the same relationship with the trim knife regardless of the portion to which the trim knife is moved. I

An intermittent drive mechanism is provided for moving the conveyor belt through'feed strokes. This intermittent drive mechanism is operable to change continuous rotational motion of an input shaft to intermittent rotational motion which is transmitted to the conveyor belts by a suitable drive train. The drive mechanism includes a continuously rotating input or drive sprocket which is connected with an idler sprocket by a chain. As the chain is moved by the drive sprocket, an operator member on the chain engages a first slot in a drive member and rotates the drive mem- I vide a new and improved method and apparatus for trimming sheet material assemblages along face, head, and foot edge portions and wherein a sheet material assemblage is clampingly engaged by a first setof conveyor belts adjacent to its head edge portion and is clampingly engaged. by a second set of conveyor belts adjacent to its foot edge portion and is maintained in a predetermined orientation with trim knives as it is transported from a first trimming station to a second trimming station and is trimmed at the second trimming station.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and'improved method and apparatus as set forth in the next proceeding object and wherein the distance between head and foot trim knives can be adjusted to ac- 3 tion; I

commodate different size of sheet material assemblages by moving at least one of the sets of conveyor belts and an associated one of the head and foot t'rim knives as a unit relative tothe other set of conveyor belts and trim knife.

Another object of this invention is to provide a book trimming arrangement which provides simple, low-cost capabilities for two-up trimming, without requiring complex reregistration mechanism between spaced trimming station at which sequential operations are performed.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved apparatus for changing continuous rotational motion into intermittent rotational motionand wherein the. apparatus includes a drive chain extending between a continuously rotating drive sprocket and an idler sprocket, a slotted drive member, and an operator member connected to the chain and engagable with one of the slots to rotate the drive member through a portion of a revolution as the operator member is moved by the chain. 4

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 'The foregoing and other objects and features of the present invention will become more apparent upon a consideration of the following description. taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial illustration of a trimmer mechanism constructed in accordance with the present inven- FIG. 2'is a schematic illustration depicting the trimming of sheet material assemblages with the trimmer mechanism of FIG- 1;

JFIG. '3 is' aschematic illustration, taken generally along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2, illustrating the relationship of a set of conveyor belts which clampingly grip the sheet material assemblages to face and foot trim knives;

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration, taken generally along the line 44 of FIG. '3, illustrating the relationship of a pair of sets of conveyor belts to the face trim I knife and to head, foot and split trim knives;

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration, taken generally along the line 5-'5 of FIG. 4, illustrating a drive assembly for reciprocating the trim knives through cutting and return strokes and'a portion of a drive train for moving the conveyor belts through feed strokes;

FIG. 6 isa schematic illustration, taken generally along theline 6-6 of 'FIG. 4, illustrating the relationship'between upper and lower belts of aset of conveyor belts; i I I FIG. 7 is a fragmentary schematic illustration depicting the mounting of head, split, and foot trim knives;

FIG. 8 is' a schematic illustration depicting the mounting of upper and lower conveyor belts and a stationary orfixed blade of a trim knife on a base or lower support block; v

FIG. 9'is a schematic illustration of an intermittent drive mechanism constructed in accordance with the present i'nvention'and utilized to impartintermittent motion to the conveyor belts;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary illustration, taken alonggthe line 10-10 of FIG. 9, depicting the relationship be tween a pivotally mounted drive member and chains whichcarry an operator member which imparts inter: mittentrotational movement to the drive member as the chains move between drive and idler pulleys;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary illustration of an indexing mechanism for retaining the drive member in a predetermied position at the end of a portion of a revolution; and

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary sectional view of the mounting of a pulley for one of the conveyor belts onan associated support shaft.

DESCRIPTION OF ONE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A trimming mechanism 20 constructed in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1 and is utilized to trim sheet material assemblages, such as pamphlets formed of one or more folded sheets, magazines or books. Thetrimming mechanism 20 includes a front or face knife 22 having a movable blade 24 which is reciprocated through cutting and return strokes relative to a fixed or stationary blade 26 by-vertical movement of a frame assembly 28 to trim the face or front edge portion ofa sheet material assemblage. While the sheet material assemblage is being trimmed, it is clampingly held-in registration with the face knife 22 by a first set of toothed timing conveyor belts 32 which grips the sheet material assemblage adjacent ot its head portion and a second set of timing conveyor I belts 34 which grips the sheet material assemblage adjacent to its footportion.

After the face edge portion of the sheet material assemblage has been trimmed, the two sets of conveyor belts 32 and 34 are activated to move the sheet material assemblage from a first or front trimming station 38 to a second or rear trimming station 42. At the second trimming station 42, ahead knife 44 trims a head end portion of the sheet material assemblage and a foot trim knife 46 trims a foot or trail end portion of the sheet material assemblage. A split knife 48 is provided intermediate the head and foot trim knives 44 and 46 for two-up trimming operations. Movable blades 54,

I 56, and 58 of thehead foot and split knives 44, 46, and

48 are all reciprocated through cutting and return strokes relative to associated stationary or fixed blades 62, 64and 66 by vertical movement of the frame assembly 28. Thus, all four trim knives 22, 44, 46 and 48 are operated simultaneously by reciprocation of the frame assembly 28 so that trimming operations on a leading sheet material assemblage are completed at the second trim'station 42 as trimming operations are initiated on a trailing sheet material assemblage at the first trim station 38. Thereafter, the'two sets of conveyor belts 32 and 34 are again activated to move the fully trimmed and split leading sheet material assemblage from the second trimming station 42 toward a delivery station 70 and to move the partially trimmed trailing sheet material assemblage from the first trimming atation 38 toward the second trimming station.

During operation of the trimmer mechanism 20, a continuous stream of untrimmed sheet material assemblages 74 (see FIG. 2) is transported from a collator or other source to the trimmer mechanism by a known chain type conveyor 78. As the untrimmed sheet material assemblages 74 approach the trimmer mechanism 20, they are preregistered by engagement of a foot edge portion 82 with a side register surface 84 which extends perpendicular to the blades of the'face knife 22 and parallel to the blades of the head, foot and split knives 44, 46 and 48. A plurality of leaf spring fingers 88 press against a head portion 92 of the untrimmed sheet material assemblage 74 to press the foot portion 82 of the sheet material assemblage against the side register surface 84.

As the untrimmed sheet material assemblage 74 is being moved toward the trimmer mechanism by the continuously operating conveyor chain 78, the immediately preceding sheet material assemblage 74a (FIG. 2) is registered with its back or folded edge portion 96 extending parallel to the blades of the face knife 22 and perpendicular to the blades of the head, foot and split knives 44, 46 and 48 by retractable stop members 100 at the first trim station 38. As the sheet material assemblage 74a is being front registered against the stop members 100, it is side registered by engagement of its foot portion 82a against a second side register surface 104. Spring fingers 106, similar to the spring fingers 88, press the head edge portion 92a of the sheet material assemblage 74a toward the side register surface 104.

After the sheet material assemblage 74a'has been and lower conveyor belts which are movable between an open or release position and a clamping or gripping position. Thus, the set of conveyor belts 34 includes a continuous upper conveyor belt 114 and a continuous lower conveyor belt 116 (see FIGS. 3,5 and 6'). The leading end portion 120 of the upper conveyor belt 114 is movable by a suitable actuator mechanism 124 between a raised or open position shown in dashed lines in FIG.' 6 and a lowered or gripping position shown in solid lines in FIG. 6. Operation of the actuator mechanism 124 also moves an upper conveyor belt 126 of the set of conveyor belts 32 between open and closed positions. When the upper conveyor belts 114 and 126-are in the open position, the sheet material assemblage 74a can be easilymoved relative to the two sets-of conveyor belts so that it can be front registered against-the stops 100 and side registered against the surface 104. After the sheet material assemblage 74a has been registered, the actuator mechanism 124 presses the leading end portions of the upper conveyor belts 114 and 126 downwardly against the sheet material assemblage 74a to securely clamp the sheet material assemblage and hold it in the registered position relative to the trim knives 22, 44, 46 and 48.

When the sheet material assemblage 74a moves from the chain type conveyor 78 toward the first trim station 38, the two sets of conveyor belts 32 and 34 are in their closed positions and are driven to effect a transfer of the sheet material assemblage from the conveyor 78 to the trimmer mechanism 20. After a sheet material assemblage 74a has entered between the upper and lower belts of the two sets of conveyor belts 32 and 34, the stop or register fingers are raised and the two sets of conveyor belts 32 and 34 are operated to their opened conditions. At this time, the sheet material assemblage 74a is registered against the stop fingers 100 by a relatively slight amount of drive force which is imparted to the sheet material assemblage near its folded or leading edge 96 to thereby front register the sheet material assemblage. If desired, a known pusher finger (not shown) may be utilized to push the sheet material assemblage against the stop fingers 100. While the sheet material assemblage 74a is being front registered,

the spring fingers 106 are effective to push the head portion 92a of the sheet material assemblage toward the side register surface 104.

After the sheet material assemblage 74a has been front and side registered, a crank drive arrangement 130 (see FIG. 5) is operated to move the frame assembly 2'8 vertically downwardly. As this occurs, a holddown clamp assembly (not shown) asssociated with the face knife 22 grips the sheet material assemblage 74a, in the manner disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,148,574, and the face knife 22 trims the sheet material assemblage. As this is occurring, the actuator mechanism 124 presses a leading end portion of the upper conveyor belts 114 and 126 against the sheet material assemblage 74a to securely clamp the assemblage. Once the sheet material assemblage 74a has been clamped by the two sets of conveyor belts 32 and 34, the front register fingers 100 are retracted downwardly by operation of v a crank mechanism 138 (see FIG. 3).

As the face knife 22 trims the face edge portion of the sheet material assemblage 74a, an immediately preceding sheet material assemblage 74b (FIG. 2) is trimmed by the head, foot and split knives 44, 46, 48 (see FIG. 2). This simultaneous trimming action results from the fact that the movable blades 24, 54, 56 and 58 of the trim knives 22, 44, 46 and 48 are all mounted on the frame assembly 28 (see FIG. 7). The movable blades of the head, foot and split knives 44, 46 and 48 are mounted on a pair of parallel support bars 144 and 146 which exten'd horiz'ontally between opposite side members or plates 148, (see FIG. 7).

As the frame assembly 28 is reciprocated-by the crank drive' 130, the movable blade 54 of the head knife 44 moves downwardly toward a fixed or stationary blade 62 (FIG. 1) to trim the'head portion 92b of the sheet material assemblage 74b (FIG. 2). Simultaneously therewith, the movable knife blade 56 of .the foot knife 46 is moved downwardly toward the fixed knife blade 64 (FIG. 1) to trim the foot portion 82b of the sheet material assemblage 74b. Similarly, the movable blade 58 of the split knife 48 is moved toward the .fixed blade 66 to sever the sheet material assemblage 74b midway between the head knife 44 andfoot knife 46 to form two separate copy sections 154 and 156 (FIG. 2). The split knife blade 58 has a pair of parallel cutting edges 160 and 162 (see FIG. 7) which cut a center waste strip out of the sheet material assemblage 741) between the two sections 154 and 156. To provide for a clean cutting action with the two knife edges 160 and 162 on the splitting blade 158, the fixed 'or station- -ary blade 66 includes a pair of spaced apart parallel members 164 and 166. Thus, downward movement of the frame assembly 28 results in the head portion 92b,

of the frame assembly 28 v foot portion 82b and middle portion of thesheet material assemblage 74b being trimmed to form two s'epa rate copy sections 154 and 156 at the trimming station 42 as the face edge portion 134 of the sheet material assemblage 74a is being trimmed by the face knife 22 at the trimming station 38.

After the sheet material assemblages 74a and 74b have been trimmed in the manner previously explained by a single downward movement of the frame assembly 28 the frame assemblyis raised to'lift the movable knife blades clear-of the-sheet material assemblages 74a and 74b. The two sets of conveyor belts 32 and 34 are thendriven through a feed stroke of a predetermined length to move the sheet materialassemblage 74a toward the second trimming station 42 and to move the two sections 154 and 156 of the sheet material assemblage 74b toward the delivery station 70. During this feed stroke, two copy sections 1548: and 156C of a preceding sheet material assemblage 740 are moved to the delivery station 70 from the intermediate position shownin FIG. 2. At the end of the assemblage 74b are located at the intermediate location in which the sections154c and 156:: of the sheet material assem blage 740 are shown in FIG.'2. In addition, atthe end of the feed stroke the sheet material assemblage 74a is located at the second trimming station 42 and the sheet materialassemblage 74 is located at the first trimming station 38. This process is repeated as a continuous stream of sheet material assemblages is trimmed bythe trimmer mechanism 20.

It is contemplated that the trimmer mechanism will be utilized to trim sheet material assemblages of different sizes. of course, this may necessitate moving at least-one of the knives 44 or 46 relative to the other knife. In fact, both the head and foot knives 44' and 46 are moved to accommodate a change in the size of the sheet material assemblages. By moving the head and foot knives 44 and 46 away from each other'to accommodate larger sheet material assemblages and toward each other to accommodate smaller sheet material assemblages, the center line of the path along which the sheet material assemblages move is maintained at the midpoint of the face knife 22. One important advantage of this is that the knives'58, l64and l66are also maintained on the center lines of the feed path of material, enabling changing stock'size without readjusting any of the knives for'two-up cutting.

v I changed to accommodate changes in the height, .i.e.,

distance between head and foot edges, of the sheet material assemblages'Thereforeit is desirable to move the set of conveyor belts 34 inwardly and outwardly with the foot knife 46 as the position of the foot knife is varied Similarly, it is desirable to move the set of conveyor belts 32 inwardly and outwardly withthe head knives 42 and 46.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, any one set of conveyor belts 32 or 34 and the associated one of the knives 44 or 46 is movable as a unit relative to the other set of conveyor belts and knife. Thus, the set of conveyor belts 32 and head knife 44 are movable outwardly as a unit relative to the center line of the trimmer assembly 20 in order to accommodate sheet material assemblages of a relatively large height. Similarly, the set of conveyor belts 32 and head knife 44 are movable inwardly as a unit to accommodate sheet material assemblages of a relatively small height. The set'of conveyor belts 34 and foot knife 46 are also movable inwardly and outwardly to accommodate different sizes of sheet material assemblages.

To accommodate this inward and outward movement of the set of conveyor belts 34 and the associated foot knife 46, the set of conveyor belts 34 and foot knife 46 are mounted ona common support assembly 172 (see FIG. 5). The support assembly 172 includes 'an upper support block 176 which is mounted on the parallel bars 144 and 146 extending between the side members 148 and 150 of the movable frame assembly 28 (see FIG. 7)'. The movable blade 56 of the foot knife 46 is mounted on the support block 176 and moves vertically upwardly and downwardly with movement of the I frame assembly 28. The support assembly 172 also inarms 192.

with a cross beam 182 which extends horizontallybetween parallel side members 184 and 186 (see FIG. 1) of a stationary main frame 189. The stationary knife blade 62 is disposed on the base block 180. The set of conveyor belts 34 are connected with the base block 180 by outwardly projecting support or connectio The upper support block 176 is maintained in vertical alignment with the base support block 180 by a pair of cylindrical guide posts 190 and 192 (see FIGS. 1, 5 and 7). The parallel guide posts 190 and 192 extend vertically downwardly from the movable support block 176 into vertical bores 194 and 196 formed in the base block 180 (see FIG. 8). The vertical bores 194 and 196. are advantageously provided-with hardened steel bushings and sleeves in which steel balls are rotatably mounted to provide an anti-friction means and an accurate guide for the posts 190 and 192 in the manner disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,148,574. Upon reciprocation of the frame assembly 28 by the crank mechanism 130,-

the guide posts l-and 192 are moved into and out'of head knife 44 (see FIG. 4)'as the head knife is moved I to accommodate sheet material assemblages of different sizes. Of course as the position of the head and foot knives 44 and 46 changes, it is necessary to vary the position of the registration surface 104 and the spring fingers 106 in order to maintain the sheet assemblages in the bores 194 and 196 formed in the base block to guide movement of the movable knife blade 56 relative to thefixed knife blade 62 (FIG. 5). It should be noted that the guide posts and 192 maintain the proper positional relationship between the movable and fixed knife blades 56 and 62 as the position of the support as sembly 172 is adjusted to accommodate sheet material assemblages of different sizes. A pair of vertical front guide posts 197 and 199 (FIG. I) slide in bores formed in the main frame 189 to guide movement of the frame assembly 28.

The set of conveyor belts 32 and head knife '44 are mounted on a support assembly 200'(see FIG. 1) having the same construction as the support assembly 172;

Thus, the support assembly 200 includes a movable or upper support block 202 which is reciprocated with the block 204. This reciprocating movement of the upper support block 202-is guided by guide posts 206 (only one of which is shown in FIG. 1). Of course, the movable knife blade54 of the head knife 44 is mounted on the movable support block 106 while the set of conveyor belts 32 and stationary knife blade 62 are mounted on the base support bloc-k 204.

The support assemblies 172 and 200 and the associated knives 44 and 46 and sets of conveyor belts 32 and 34 are moved through equal distances toward or away from the center line of the path along which the sheet material assemblages move'by operation of an actuator assembly 210. The actuator assembly 210 includes a pair of threaded shafts 214 and 216 (FIG. 8) having oppositely threaded end portions which are dis posed in engagement with nuts 218 on the base'blocks 180 and 204. The two parallel shafts 214 and 216 are interconnected by chain and sprocket assembly 218 (FIG. so that upon rotation of the shaft 214, both of the shafts 214 and 216 are rotated by the same amount.

Since the opposite end portions of the shafts 214 and.

216 are threaded in opposite directions, the two support assemblies 172 and 200 are both moved in the same direction by equal amounts in the manner disclosed in the aforementioned US. Pat. No. 3,148,574. It should be noted that in accordance with a feature of semblages 74a, 74b and 746 along a straight path through the trimming mechanism 20. The intermittent drive assembly 250 (FIG. 9) is connected with the sets of conveyor belts 32 and 34 by drive train 252 (FIG. 5 The intermittent drive assembly. 250 periodically operates the drive train 252 to move the sets of conveyor belts 32 and 34 through feed strokes in the same direction. Since each set of conveyor belts 32 and 34 in-,

the present invention, the sets of conveyor belts 32 and 34 and knives 44 and 46 move inwardly and outwardly together with the support assemblies 172 and 200 on which they are mounted,

The side register surface 104 (FIGS. 2 and 4) is mounted on the support assembly 172 along with the set of conveyor belts 34' and foot knife'46. The spring fingers 106 are mounted on the support assembly 200 along with the set of conveyor belts 32 and head knife 44. Therefore upon relative movement between the head and foot knives 44 and 46, the register surface 104 and spring fingers 106 are also moved so that the untrimmed sheet material assemblages are always registered in the desired orientation relativeto the head and foot knives 44 and 46.

The front register fingers 100 (FIG. 2) are also mounted on the support assemblies 172 and 200. Thus, the front register fingers 100 associated with the set of conveyor belts 34 are mounted on the support assembly 172 on a longitudinally extending support bar 224 which is pivotally connected to the base block 180 at a connection 226(see FIG. 3). The support arm 224 is moved about the pivot connection 226 by the crank assembly 138 which is slidably mounted on a drive rod 230. Similarly, the front register fingers 100 associated with the set of conveyor belts 32- is mounted on the base block 204 for movement with the head knife 44. The front register fingers 100 are movable axially along a mounting section 234 to adjust the fingers to register sheet material assemblages of different size relative to the face knife 22.

Although it is contemplated that the split knife 48 will be maintained on the center line of the trimmer 20 for most operations, the split knife could be moved toward either the foot knife 46 or head knife 44 if desired. In addition, additional split knives'could be provided for three-up or four-up trimming if desired.

At the end of each trimming operation, the sets of conveyor belts 32 and 34 are indexed or moved through a feed stroke to advance the sheet material asbelts can be moved through only feed strokes without intervening return strokes. i

The intermittent drive assembly '250 changes contin uous rotational movement of an input or drive shaft 256 (FIG. 9) to intermittent rotational motion of an output shaft toward 260. The intermittent drive mechanism 250 includes a pair of parallel drive chains 264 and 266 (see FIG. 10) which extend in loops between continuously rotating drive sprockets 268 and 270 connected to the input shaft 256. As the drive chains 264 and 266 move around. idler sprockets 274 and 276 mounted on a support shaft 278, actuator pins 282, 284 and 286 (see FIG. 9) are moved into engagement with a slotted drive member 290 and rotate it through a por tion of a revolution in a counterclockwise direction (as viewed in FIG. 9). Each of the actuator pins 282, 284, and 286 is connected at one end to the chain 264 and at the opposite end to the chain 266 (see actuator pin 282 in FIG. 10). Therefore,'the actuator pins 282, 28 and 28b are always disposed with their longitudinal axes entending parallel to the axis of rotation of the drive member 290 and perpendicular to the upper and lower runs of the chains 264 and 266. i

The drive member 290 has a generally I-I-shaped configuration and a pair of slots 298 and 300 (FIG. 9) which extend inwardly from opposite sides of the drive member. As the actuator pin 282 is moved along the upper run of the chains 264 and 266, it moves into engagement with the slot 298 in the drive member 290 (see FIG. 9). Continued movement of the reactor pin 282 along the upper runs of the chains 264 and 266 moves the actuator pin into engagement with a pair of parallel cam tracks 306 formed between two sets 307 and 3070 of (FIG. 10) upper and lower cam members 308 and 310. The lower cam members 310 deflect the actuator pin 282 upwardly as it is moved toward the left (as viewed in FIG. 9) by the chains 264 and 266. This enables the actuator pin 282 to move the drive member 290 in acounterclockwise direction from the position shown in FIG. 9 through, the positions shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 to a position displaced l from the position shown in FIG. 9.

As the actuator pin 282 moves into engagement with the lower cam members 310, the acutator pin is moved outwardly of the output shaft260 by initial or acceleration portions 312 (FIG.- ll) of the cam tracks 306. This outward and left-ward movement of the actuator pin.

282 causes the drive member 290 to pivot about the central axis of the output shaft 260. Continued movement of the actuator pin 282 along the cam tracks 306 moves the actuator pin into engagement with inwardly sloping deceleration portions 314 of the cam tracks 306 (see FIG. 12). Continued movement of the actuator pin 282 along the upper run of the chains 264 and 266 move'the actuator pin out of the cam tracks 306 with the drive member 290 in a position rotated from the position shown in FIG. 9. Still further movement of the actuator pin 282 along the upper runs of 1 1 the chains 264 and '266 disengages the actuator pin from the slot 298 in the drive member 290. It should be noted that the upper runs of the chains 264 and 266 shaft260 (FIG. 9) moves a drive chain 320 (FIG.

which is connected with a sprocket 324 running on a hexagonal input shaft 326 to the lower belts 116 and 330 of the sets of conveyor belts 32 and 34. The drive sprockets for the upper conveyor belts 126 and .114 are driven by gears 334 and 336 (FIG. 5) connected tothe hexagonal shaft 326 and a hexagonal shaft 338 for the upper drive pulleys. Therefore, a the rotation of the sprockets'324 causes the shafts 326 and 338 to rotate in opposite directions at the same speed. This results in rotation of the lower drive pulley 342 to move the lower conveyor belt 116 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 6. Due to the. interaction between gears334 and 336, the upper drive pulley 344 is rotated in a clockwise direction (as viewed in FIG. 6) to move the lower run of the drive belt 114 in the same direction as the'upper run of the drive belt 116. The drive belts 1'14 and 116 are advantageously the toothed or positive drive typeprevent slippage between the drive belts on the drive pulleys for the two sets of conveyor belts 32 and 34 to thereby maintain the sheet mate'rial assemblages in a registered orientation as they are moved through the trimmer mechanism 20. Spring biased pressure shoes ormembers 35 0 press the. lower runs of the belts 114 and 126 against the sheet material assemblages so as to clamp and'frictionally hold the sheet material assemblages against movement relative to the conveyor belts. H H I After the drive member 290 has been rotated through half a revolation by the actuator pin 282, the actuator'pin moves out of'engagement with the slot 298 and the next succeeding actuator pin 284 moves toward and into engagement with the slot 300 which is now in the position in which the slot 298 is shown in FIG. 9. As this is occurring, the drive member 290 re- 'mainsst ationary and'the sheet material assemblages are held stationary in the registered orientation relative to the knives of the trimmer mechanism 20 by the sets tuator pin 284 engages the acceleration portions 312 of extend perpendicularly through the axis of rotation of the drive member 290. Therefore, each time an actuator pin 282, 284 or 286 is moved-along the cam tracks 306 from the position shown in FIG. 9 to a position just slightly past the position shown in FIG. 12, the drive member 290 is rotated through 180 degrees The successive actuator pins 282, 284 and 286 on the chains 264 and 266 spaced are apart by a distance such as that each actuator pin in turn initiates movement of the drive member 290 after the trimming knives 22, 44, 46 and 48 have been moved through feed and return strokes. I V

The drive member 290 is releasably heldin either the position shown in FIG. 9 or in a position displaced 180 from that position by a detent mechanism 362 (FIG. 13). The detent mechanism 362 includes a disc or wheel 364 which is mounted on the shaft 260 (see FIG.

10) with the drive member 290. The detent disc 364.-

hold the detent disc 364 and the drive member 290 in the position shown in FIG. 9. Upon rotation of the drive" member 290 through 180 by one of the actuator pins 282, .284, 286, the indentation 370 is moved into position beneath the follower wheel 374. The biasing presthe cam track s 306 and agai-ninitiates pivoting move- 'ment of the drive member 290. Of course, this activates the drive train 252 tomove the conveyor belts through feed strokes.

The longitudinally extending slots 298-and 300 extend inwardly from opposite side of the drive member 290 and are disposed with their longitudinal axes in a tracks 306 have horizontally aligned entrance and exit portions 350 and 352 having longitudinal axes which sure applied by the spring biased arm 376 urging the follower wheel 374 into engagement with one of the indentations 368 is sufficient to-hold the drive member 290 against undesiredrotational movement. However, this retaining force can be readily overcome by the actuator pins as they move along the cam track 306.

g The cam tracks 306 have accelerating portions 312 so that the sheet material assemblages are quickly accelerated by the sets of conveyor belts 32 and 34. However, the deceleration portions 314 of the cam tracks 306 have a much more gradualslope so that the sheet material assemblages are slowed down gradually and will not bounce off of the (FIG. 2).

When the distance between the head and foot knives 44 and 46 is to be adjusted, the drive pulleys for the two sets of conveyor belts are moved axially along the shafts 326 and 338. To facilitate this movement andto prevent binding'between-the pulleys and the support shafts, the pulleys are mounted on undercut sleeves 390 (see FIG. 14). The sleeves 390 are undercut, as indicated at 394 in FIG 14, axially outwardly of the extensions 192 from the'base support blocks. Therefore,

the sleeves grip the bars 326 only in the area directly inwardly of the extensions from the base support block. When the base support block 180 (see FIG. 8) is moved axially along the drive shaft 326, only the area directly beneath the extension 192 slides on the surface of the drive shaft 326. Since the sleeve 390 is undercut at 394, the sleeve can cock slightly relative tothe shaft 326 without binding up to thereby facilitate adjusting by the support block- 180. Although only the sleeve 304 for the pulley 342 has been illustrated in FIG. 14, it should be understood that the pulleys for the other conveyor belts are mounted on'sleeves in the same manner.

front register fingers From the foregoing description it can be seen that the trimmer mechanism 20 is operable to trim a continuous stream of sheet material assemblages supplied to the trimmer mechanism by the chain conveyor 78. Each of the sheet materials assemblages may consist of only a single sheet, a plurality of sheets, or a plurality of signatures. As each sheet material assemblage is received in turn at the first trim station 38, it is registered with the back or folded edge portion 96 extending parallel to the face trim knife 22 and perpendicular to the head, foot and split-trim knives 44, 46 and 48.

After a sheet material assemblage has been registered at the trim station 33, it is clampingly engaged by the two sets of conveyor belts 32 and 34 to hold it in this orientation as the face trim knife 22 trims the face edge portion of the sheet material assemblage. After the frame assembly 28 has been raised and a movable knife blade 24 lifted clear of the sheet assemblage, the intermittent drive mechanism 250 is activated to move the sheet material assemblage from the first trimming station 38 to the secondtrimming station 42. Simultaneously therewith, the next succeeding-sheet material assemblage is registered at the first trim station 38 and engaged by the sets of conveyor belts. After the leading and trailing sheet material assemblages have been moved to the trim stations 38 and 42, the intermittent drive mechanism 250 is deactivated and the sheet material assemblages are held stationary while the face, head, foot, and split knives 22, 44, 46 and 48 are operated throughfeed and return strokes to trim the two sheet material assemblages. Upon completion of the trimming operation, the intermittent drive mechanism sheet material assemblages through the trimming mechanism.

Although the intermittent drive mechanism 250 is believed to'be particularly advantageous for driving the two sets of feed belts 32 and 34, it should be under stood that otherknown types of intermittent drive mechanisms could be utilized. In addition, it is contemplated that the output from the intermittent drive mechanism 250 could be utilized in other environments to drive devices other than the two sets of conveyor belts 32 and 34.

As the sheet material assemblages are moved through the trimmer mechanism, they are securely gripped by the two parallel sets of conveyor belts 32 and 34 and held in a registered orientation with the trimming knives 22, 44, 46 and 48. This enables the sheet mate rial assemblages to be registered once at the firsttrim station and trimmed at the second trim station without belts 34 are moved as another unit upon operation of the adjustment assembly 210. If the trimmer mechanism 20 is used under circumstances where there is to be no two-up trimming, the adjustment mechanism 210 could be altered tomove only one of the knives 44 or 46 and associated set of conveyor belts. However, the simultaneous adjustment in the positions of both trimming knives 44 and 46 and the associated sets of con veyor belts is believed to be particularly advantageous in that the flow of sheet material assemblages is maintained along the center line of the trimmer mechanism 20. The accommodating of sheet material assemblages of different sizes is further facilitated by the mounting of each of the two side register devices 104 and 106 for movement with an associated one of the sets of .conveyor belts 32 and 34 and trim knives 44 and 46.

While the trimmer mechanism 20 has been shown with a split knife 48 for two-up trimming, the trimmer mechanism may be utilized to trim only the face, head and foot portions of sheet material articles. When this is to be done, the movable knife blade 58 is removed from the trimmer mechanism so that the splitknife 48 willbe ineffective to trim the middle or center portion of the sheetmaterial assemblages.

- Having described a specific preferred embodiment of the invention, the following is claimed:

. 1. An apparatus for trimming sheet material assemblages along face, head and foot edge portions, said apparatus comprising first knife means for trimming the trim station, fourth knife means disposed at the second trim station, intermediate said first and second knife means for cutting each of the sheet material-assembeing reregistered. Since there are two sets of conveyor I belts 32and 34 which continuously grip the sheet matethe trimming knives 44 and 46 and'the two sets of conveyor belts 32 and 34. Thus, the head knife 44 and associated set of conveyor belts 32 are moved as one unit while the foot knife 46 and associated set of conveyor blages in turn between the head and foot portions of the sheet material assemblages, registration means at one of the trim stations for positioning each of the sheet material assemblages in turn in predetermined orientation with said first, second and third knife means prior totrimming, andconveyor means for holding a sheet material assemblage in the predetermined orientation at said one of thetrim stations as it is trimmed by at least one of said knife means, for transportingthe sheet material assemblage from the one trim station to the other trim station, and for maintaining the sheet material assemblage in the predetermined orientation as the sheet material assemblage is transported to and trimmed at the other trim station, said conveyor means including first belt means extending between the trim stations for clampingly engaging a sheet material assemblage adjacent to its head portion at the one trim station and for maintaining this clamping engagement as the sheet material assemblage is transported to the other trim station and second belt means extending between the trim stations for clampingly engaging'a sheet material assemblage adjacent to its foot portion at the one trim station and for maintaining this clamping engagement as the sheet material assemblage is transported to the other trim station.

2., An apparatus as set forth in claim lfurther including adjusting means connected with one of said first one of said first and second'belt means and the other first belt means and said second knife means relative to said fourth knife means and for simultaneously moving said second belt means and said third knife means relative to said fourth knife means.

4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said registration means includes register surface means for engaging one of the head and foot edge portions of a sheet material assemblage to assist in positioning the sheet material assemblage in the predetermined orientation and means for supporting said register surface means for movement relative to said fourth knife means with-one of said first and second belt means and one of said second and thirdknife means upon operation of said adjusting means. 5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further including adjusting means for simultaneously moving said first and second belt means'and said second and third knife means relative to said fourth knife means.

6. An apparatus for trimming sheet material assemblages along face, head and foot edge portions, said apparatus comprising first knife means for trimming the face edge portion of each of the sheet material assem blages in turn at a first trim station, second and third knife means for trimming the head and foot edge portions ofeach of the sheet material assemblages in turn at a second trim station which is spaced from said first trim station, registration-means at one ofthe trim stations for positioning each of the sheet material assemblages in turn in predetermined orientation with said first, second and third knife means prior to trimming, conveyor means for holding a sheet material assemblage in the predetermined orientation at said one of the trim stations as it is trimmed byat least one of said knife means, for transporting the sheet material assemblage from the one trim station to the other trim station, and for maintaining the sheet material assemblage in the predetermined orientation as the'sheet material 3 assemblage is transported to and trimmed at the other trim station, said conveyor means including first belt means extending between the trim stations for clampingly engaging a sheet material assemblage adjacent to its head portion at the one trim station and for maintaining this clamping engagement as the sheet material second belt means extending between the trim stations for clampingly engaging a sheet material assemblage adjacent to its foot portion at the one trim station and for maintaining this clamping engagement as the sheet material assemblage is transported to the other trim station, and drive means for moving said first and sec-' and belt means through operating strokes of a predetermined length, said'drive means including a continuously driven drive sprocket, an idler sprocket, a chain extending between said drive and idler sprockets, a

' drive member defining first and second slotsextending assemblage is transported to the other trim station and 0 for thereafter engaging the other one of said slots and rotating said drivemember throughanother portion of a revolution to again activate said drive train to move said first and second belt means through a second operating stroke.

7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6 further including means for moving said first, second and third knife means through trim and return strokes between the first and second operating strokes of said first and second belt means.

8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said drive member is mounted for rotation about an axis extending through said drive member at alocationintermediate innermost end portions of said first and second slots.

9. An apparatus as set forth in claim .1 wherein said conveyor means comprises the only means for maintaining said sheet material assemblages in the predetermined orientation at the other trim station.

10. A trimmer through which sheet material assemblages are intermittently moved in sequence along a substantially horizontal path,

a. a first trimming station having cooperating knife means above and below said path and extending transversely thereof for trimming the face of each sheet material assemblage,

b. a second trimming station having spaced pairs of cooperating knife means, each pair of knife means having a portion above and below said path and extending parallel thereto for trimming the head and foot of each sheet material assemblage,

c. a pair of spaced side frame members extending parallel to said path and supporting at least said pairs of knife means at said second station, said frame members being located outwardly of said path,

d. means for adjusting said side frame members and their knives horizontally toward and away from each other for trimming'sheet material assemblages of different head-to-foot dimensions,

a pair of upper and lower positively-driven continuous belts supported on each side frame member for adjustment therewith, said belts extending between said first and second stations and being arranged to transport sheet material assemblages which have been trimmed ina first machine cycle at :said first station to the second station for. trimmingthereat duringa second machine cycle,

f. drive means for intermittently moving all of said belts in unison, V. y

g. means for operating said knife means to perform trimming functions during aperiod when sheet material assemblages at'each station are in rest condik. a pair of spaced positive drive pulleys on said lower drive shaft, one for each lower belt of each pair,

l. said pulleys and said drive shafts being constructed to enable axial adjustment of the pulleys on their shafts,

in means mounting one upper pulley and the adjacent lower pulley on each side frame member for horizontal adjustment therewith whereby the drive pulleys and their respective belts move in unison during adjustment,

n. means for presenting sheet material assemblages with their back edges forward to said first station at which they are gripped by the spaced pair of belts,

0. means for registering the back edge and head and foot of each sheet material assemblage solely at said first station and utilizing said belts and said drive shafts for accurately maintaining the relationship of the pairs of belts to each other and to the sheet material assemblages when the-sheet material assemblages arrive at the second station, and

p. a fourth knife means disposed at said second trimming station intermediate said spaced pair of knife means, said means for operating said knife means to perform trimming functions being operable to operate said fourth knife means to cut the sheet material assemblages intermediate their head and foot.

1 1. A trimmer as set forth in claim further includmeans intermediate upper and lower runs of each of said upper belts for pressing the lower runs of the upper belts against the sheet material assemblages.

12. A method of trimming sheet material assemblages two-upas they travel intermittently along a substantially horizontal path with their back edges leading and with a single copy section disposed on each sideof a longitudinal axis of said path, comprising the steps of:

a. feeding a first untrimmed two-up sheet material assemblage into a first trimming station,

b. registering the first two-up sheet material assemblage laterally with respect to said longitudinal axis of said path,

0. arresting the sheet material assemblage by its back edge and thereby registering. said back edge perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said path,

d.-frictionally gripping the registered untrimmed twoup sheet material assemblage apart areas on opposite sides of said longitudinal axis of said path from above and below,

e, laterally trimming the face of a first two-up sheet material assemblage while so arrested and registered at said first station, transporting the face-trimmed first two-up sheet material assemblage in register, while maintaining the frictional grip thereon, to a second trimming station and simultaneously feeding a second untrimmed two-up sheet material assemblage into said first station, g. stopping said first face-trimmed two-up sheet material assemblage at said second station and simultaneously arresting and registering the second untrimmed two up sheet material assemblage at the first station, h. trimming both sides and the middle of the first sheet material assemblage parallel to said longitudinal axis of said path to provide a pair of separated independent copy sections while it is stopped and frictionallyheld in register at said second station and simultaneously therewith trimming the face of the second two-up sheet material assemblage at said first station, and

. moving the separated copy sections from the sec ond station while each copy section is independently frictionally gripped from above and below.

13; A method according to claim 12 wherein the trim provided in the middle at the second station comprises a pair of closely spaced parallel cuts for removing waste material from between said pair of cuts.

l4. Atrimmer through which sheet material assemblages are intermittently moved in sequence along a substantially horizontal path, g

a. a first'trimming station having cooperating knife means above and below said path and extending transversely thereof for trimming the face of eac sheet material assemblage,

b. a second trimming station having spaced pairs of cooperating knife means, each pair of knife means having a portion above and below said path and extending parallel thereto for trimming the head and foot of each sheet material assemblage,

c. a pair of spaced side frame members extending parallel to said path and supporting at least said pairs of knife means at said second station, said frame members being located outwardly of said path, v

(1. means for adjusting said side frame members and their knives horizontally toward and away from each other for trimming sheet material assemblages of different head-to-foot dimensions, i Y

e. a pair of upper and lower positively-driven continuous belts supported on each side frame member for adjustment therewith, said belts extending between said first and second stations and being arranged to transport sheet material assemblages which have been trimmed in a first machine cycle at said first station to the second station for trimming thereat during a second machine cycle,

f. drive means for intermittently moving all of said belts. in unison, said drive means including,

.fa. a continuously driven drive sprocket,

fb. an idler sprocket,

fc. a chain extending between said sprockets,

fd. a drive member defining first and second slots extending inwardly from opposite sides of said lution to again activate said drive train to move said belts through a second operating stroke,

g. means for operating said knifemeans to perform trimming functions, during a period when sheet material assemblages at each station are in rest condition,

h. an upper drive shaft connected to said drive means and extending above said path and perpendicular thereto,

i. a pair of spaced positive drive pulleys on said upper drive shaft, one for each upper belt of each pair,

j. a lower drive shaft connected to said drive means and. extending belowsaid path and perpendicular thereto, g V

. k. a pair of spaced positive drive pulleys on said lower drive shaft, one for each lower belt of each pair, I i

1. said pulleys and said drive shafts being constructed to enable axial adjustment of the pulley on their shafts, 1

m. means mounting one upper pulley and the adjacent lower pulley on each side frame member for horizontal adjustment therewith whereby the drive 1 pulleys and their respective belts move in unison during adjustment,

n. means for presenting sheet material assemblages with their back edges forward to said first station .at which they are gripped by the spaced pairs of belts, and

0. means for registering the back edge and head and foot of each sheet material assemblage solely at said first station :and utilizingsaid belts andsaid drive shafts for accurately maintaining the: relationship of the pairs of belts to each other and to the sheet material assemblages when the sheet material assemblages arrive at the second station.

15. A'method of trimming sheet material assemblages two-up as they travel in sequence along a substantially horizontal path with their back edges leading and with a single copy section disposed on each side of a longitudinal axis of said path, and wherein all of said sheet material assemblages are cyclically indexed from .a rest condition at one trimming position to a rest condition at the next-following position, comprising the steps of: r

a. feeding a first untrimmed two-up sheet material assemblage along said "path into a first rest location and registering its back edge and opposite sides with respect to said longitudinal axis of said path in a first cycle, i b. frictionally gripping said first registered sheet materia'l-assemblage from above and below at spacedapart points on opposite sides of said longitudinal axis of said path while at rest, c. trimming the face of the first sheet material assemblage while at rest, d. transporting the face-trimmed first sheet material assemblage to a second rest location in register during a second cycle while maintaining said fri ctional grip thereon and simultaneously feeding a second untrimmed twoup sheet material assembly to said firstv location,

e. bringing said first and second sheet material assemblages to rest at the same time in their respective locations during said second cycle, and

f. simultaneously trimming the face of the second sheet material assemblage while providing at least a pair of parallel trim cuts to said first sheet material assemblage at right angles to the face trim and in at least two areas separated by an area of frictional grip, said parallel trim cuts to said-first sheet material assemblage are provided at both sides and the middle thereof to produce a trimmed pair of separated, independent single copy sections and moving the single copy sections toward a delivery position in a third machine cycle while maintaining the frictional grip on each at different ones of said spaced-apart points. 

1. An apparatus for trimming sheet material assemblages along face, head and foot edge portions, said apparatus comprising first knife means for trimming the face edge portion of each of the sheet material assemblages in turn at a first trim station, second and third knife means for trimming the head and foot edge portions of each of the sheet material assemblages in turn at a second trim station which is spaced from said first trim station, fourth knife means disposed at the second trim station, intermediate said first and second knife means for cutting each of the sheet material assemblages in turn between the head and foot portions of the sheet material assemblages, registration means at one of the trim stations for positioning each of the sheet material assemblages in turn in predetermined orientation with said first, second and third knife means prior to trimming, and conveyor means for holding a sheet material assemblage in the predetermined orientation at said one of the trim stations as it is trimmed by at least one of said knife means, for transporting the sheet material assemblage from the one trim station to the other trim station, and for maintaining the sheet material assemblage in the predetermined orientation as the sheet material assemblage is transported to and trimmed at the other trim station, said conveyor means including first belt means extending between the trim stations for clampingly engaging a sheet material assemblage adjacent to its head portion at the one trim station and for maintaining this clamping engagement as the sheet material assemblage is transported to the other trim station and second belt means extending between the trim stations for clampingly engaging a sheet material assemblage adjacent to its foot portion at the one trim station and for maintaining this clamping engagement as the sheet material assemblage is transported to the other trim station.
 2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further including adjusting means connected with one of said first and second belt means and one of said second and third knife means for simultaneously moving said one belt means and said one knife means relative to the other one of said first and second belt means and the other one of said second and third knife means to adjust the distance between said first and second belt means and said second and third knife means.
 3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further including adjusting means for simultaneously moving said first belt means and said second knife means relative to said fourth knife means and for simultaneously moving said second belt means and said third knife means relative to said fourth knife means.
 4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said registration means includes register surface means for engaging one of the head and foot edge portions of a sheet material assemblage to assist in positioning the sheet material assemblage in the predeterMined orientation and means for supporting said register surface means for movement relative to said fourth knife means with one of said first and second belt means and one of said second and third knife means upon operation of said adjusting means.
 5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further including adjusting means for simultaneously moving said first and second belt means and said second and third knife means relative to said fourth knife means.
 6. An apparatus for trimming sheet material assemblages along face, head and foot edge portions, said apparatus comprising first knife means for trimming the face edge portion of each of the sheet material assemblages in turn at a first trim station, second and third knife means for trimming the head and foot edge portions of each of the sheet material assemblages in turn at a second trim station which is spaced from said first trim station, registration means at one of the trim stations for positioning each of the sheet material assemblages in turn in predetermined orientation with said first, second and third knife means prior to trimming, conveyor means for holding a sheet material assemblage in the predetermined orientation at said one of the trim stations as it is trimmed by at least one of said knife means, for transporting the sheet material assemblage from the one trim station to the other trim station, and for maintaining the sheet material assemblage in the predetermined orientation as the sheet material assemblage is transported to and trimmed at the other trim station, said conveyor means including first belt means extending between the trim stations for clampingly engaging a sheet material assemblage adjacent to its head portion at the one trim station and for maintaining this clamping engagement as the sheet material assemblage is transported to the other trim station and second belt means extending between the trim stations for clampingly engaging a sheet material assemblage adjacent to its foot portion at the one trim station and for maintaining this clamping engagement as the sheet material assemblage is transported to the other trim station, and drive means for moving said first and second belt means through operating strokes of a predetermined length, said drive means including a continuously driven drive sprocket, an idler sprocket, a chain extending between said drive and idler sprockets, a drive member defining first and second slots extending inwardly from opposite sides of said drive member, a drive train connecting said drive member with said first and second belt means, means supporting said drive member for rotational movement, operator means connected to said chain for engaging one of said slots and rotating said drive member through a portion of a revolution to activate said drive train to move said first and second belt means through a first operating stroke and for thereafter engaging the other one of said slots and rotating said drive member through another portion of a revolution to again activate said drive train to move said first and second belt means through a second operating stroke.
 7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6 further including means for moving said first, second and third knife means through trim and return strokes between the first and second operating strokes of said first and second belt means.
 8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said drive member is mounted for rotation about an axis extending through said drive member at a location intermediate innermost end portions of said first and second slots.
 9. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said conveyor means comprises the only means for maintaining said sheet material assemblages in the predetermined orientation at the other trim station.
 10. A trimmer through which sheet material assemblages are intermittently moved in sequence along a substantially horizontal path, a. a first trimming station having cooperating knife means above and below said path and extending transversely tHereof for trimming the face of each sheet material assemblage, b. a second trimming station having spaced pairs of cooperating knife means, each pair of knife means having a portion above and below said path and extending parallel thereto for trimming the head and foot of each sheet material assemblage, c. a pair of spaced side frame members extending parallel to said path and supporting at least said pairs of knife means at said second station, said frame members being located outwardly of said path, d. means for adjusting said side frame members and their knives horizontally toward and away from each other for trimming sheet material assemblages of different head-to-foot dimensions, e. a pair of upper and lower positively-driven continuous belts supported on each side frame member for adjustment therewith, said belts extending between said first and second stations and being arranged to transport sheet material assemblages which have been trimmed in a first machine cycle at said first station to the second station for trimming thereat during a second machine cycle, f. drive means for intermittently moving all of said belts in unison, g. means for operating said knife means to perform trimming functions during a period when sheet material assemblages at each station are in rest condition, h. an upper drive shaft connected to said drive means and extending above said path and perpendicular thereto, i. a pair of spaced positive drive pulleys on said upper drive shaft, one for each upper belt of each pair, j. a lower drive shaft connected to said drive means and extending below said path and perpendicular thereto, k. a pair of spaced positive drive pulleys on said lower drive shaft, one for each lower belt of each pair, l. said pulleys and said drive shafts being constructed to enable axial adjustment of the pulleys on their shafts, m. means mounting one upper pulley and the adjacent lower pulley on each side frame member for horizontal adjustment therewith whereby the drive pulleys and their respective belts move in unison during adjustment, n. means for presenting sheet material assemblages with their back edges forward to said first station at which they are gripped by the spaced pair of belts, o. means for registering the back edge and head and foot of each sheet material assemblage solely at said first station and utilizing said belts and said drive shafts for accurately maintaining the relationship of the pairs of belts to each other and to the sheet material assemblages when the sheet material assemblages arrive at the second station, and p. a fourth knife means disposed at said second trimming station intermediate said spaced pair of knife means, said means for operating said knife means to perform trimming functions being operable to operate said fourth knife means to cut the sheet material assemblages intermediate their head and foot.
 11. A trimmer as set forth in claim 10 further including: means intermediate upper and lower runs of each of said upper belts for pressing the lower runs of the upper belts against the sheet material assemblages.
 12. A method of trimming sheet material assemblages two-up as they travel intermittently along a substantially horizontal path with their back edges leading and with a single copy section disposed on each side of a longitudinal axis of said path, comprising the steps of: a. feeding a first untrimmed two-up sheet material assemblage into a first trimming station, b. registering the first two-up sheet material assemblage laterally with respect to said longitudinal axis of said path, c. arresting the sheet material assemblage by its back edge and thereby registering said back edge perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said path, d. frictionally gripping the registered untrimmed two-up sheet material assemblage apart areas on opposite sides of said longitudinal axis of said path from above and below, e. laterally triMming the face of a first two-up sheet material assemblage while so arrested and registered at said first station, f. transporting the face-trimmed first two-up sheet material assemblage in register, while maintaining the frictional grip thereon, to a second trimming station and simultaneously feeding a second untrimmed two-up sheet material assemblage into said first station, g. stopping said first face-trimmed two-up sheet material assemblage at said second station and simultaneously arresting and registering the second untrimmed two-up sheet material assemblage at the first station, h. trimming both sides and the middle of the first sheet material assemblage parallel to said longitudinal axis of said path to provide a pair of separated independent copy sections while it is stopped and frictionally held in register at said second station and simultaneously therewith trimming the face of the second two-up sheet material assemblage at said first station, and i. moving the separated copy sections from the second station while each copy section is independently frictionally gripped from above and below.
 13. A method according to claim 12 wherein the trim provided in the middle at the second station comprises a pair of closely spaced parallel cuts for removing waste material from between said pair of cuts.
 14. A trimmer through which sheet material assemblages are intermittently moved in sequence along a substantially horizontal path, a. a first trimming station having cooperating knife means above and below said path and extending transversely thereof for trimming the face of each sheet material assemblage, b. a second trimming station having spaced pairs of cooperating knife means, each pair of knife means having a portion above and below said path and extending parallel thereto for trimming the head and foot of each sheet material assemblage, c. a pair of spaced side frame members extending parallel to said path and supporting at least said pairs of knife means at said second station, said frame members being located outwardly of said path, d. means for adjusting said side frame members and their knives horizontally toward and away from each other for trimming sheet material assemblages of different head-to-foot dimensions, e. a pair of upper and lower positively-driven continuous belts supported on each side frame member for adjustment therewith, said belts extending between said first and second stations and being arranged to transport sheet material assemblages which have been trimmed in a first machine cycle at said first station to the second station for trimming thereat during a second machine cycle, f. drive means for intermittently moving all of said belts in unison, said drive means including, fa. a continuously driven drive sprocket, fb. an idler sprocket, fc. a chain extending between said sprockets, fd. a drive member defining first and second slots extending inwardly from opposite sides of said drive member, fe. a drive train connecting said belts with said drive member, fg. means supporting said drive member for rotational movement, fh. operator means connected to said chain for engaging one of said slots and rotating said drive member through a portion of a revolution to activate said drive train to move said belts through a first operating stroke and for thereafter engaging the other one of said slots and rotating said drive member through another portion of a revolution to again activate said drive train to move said belts through a second operating stroke, g. means for operating said knife means to perform trimming functions during a period when sheet material assemblages at each station are in rest condition, h. an upper drive shaft connected to said drive means and extending above said path and perpendicular thereto, i. a pair of spaced positive drive pulleys on said upper drive shaft, one for each upper belt of each pair, j. a lower drive shaft Connected to said drive means and extending below said path and perpendicular thereto, k. a pair of spaced positive drive pulleys on said lower drive shaft, one for each lower belt of each pair, l. said pulleys and said drive shafts being constructed to enable axial adjustment of the pulley on their shafts, m. means mounting one upper pulley and the adjacent lower pulley on each side frame member for horizontal adjustment therewith whereby the drive pulleys and their respective belts move in unison during adjustment, n. means for presenting sheet material assemblages with their back edges forward to said first station at which they are gripped by the spaced pairs of belts, and o. means for registering the back edge and head and foot of each sheet material assemblage solely at said first station and utilizing said belts and said drive shafts for accurately maintaining the relationship of the pairs of belts to each other and to the sheet material assemblages when the sheet material assemblages arrive at the second station.
 15. A method of trimming sheet material assemblages two-up as they travel in sequence along a substantially horizontal path with their back edges leading and with a single copy section disposed on each side of a longitudinal axis of said path, and wherein all of said sheet material assemblages are cyclically indexed from a rest condition at one trimming position to a rest condition at the next-following position, comprising the steps of: a. feeding a first untrimmed two-up sheet material assemblage along said path into a first rest location and registering its back edge and opposite sides with respect to said longitudinal axis of said path in a first cycle, b. frictionally gripping said first registered sheet material assemblage from above and below at spaced-apart points on opposite sides of said longitudinal axis of said path while at rest, c. trimming the face of the first sheet material assemblage while at rest, d. transporting the face-trimmed first sheet material assemblage to a second rest location in register during a second cycle while maintaining said frictional grip thereon and simultaneously feeding a second untrimmed two-up sheet material assembly to said first location, e. bringing said first and second sheet material assemblages to rest at the same time in their respective locations during said second cycle, and f. simultaneously trimming the face of the second sheet material assemblage while providing at least a pair of parallel trim cuts to said first sheet material assemblage at right angles to the face trim and in at least two areas separated by an area of frictional grip, said parallel trim cuts to said first sheet material assemblage are provided at both sides and the middle thereof to produce a trimmed pair of separated, independent single copy sections and moving the single copy sections toward a delivery position in a third machine cycle while maintaining the frictional grip on each at different ones of said spaced-apart points. 